MARKET REPORT FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE February 2026 105 global aquaculture production has been increasing steadily in recent years, surpassing traditional fishing in many regions. The goals of high performance, healthy growth, and product quality in farming systems ensure that fish meal and fish oil retain their strategic role in feed formulations. This ensures that demand remains strong, particularly in salmon, trout, and marine fish farming. 2. Trend Toward High Nutrient-Density Ingredients in Animal Nutrition Due to rising production costs and sustainability pressures, the global livestock sector is turning toward more efficient and nutrient-dense feed solutions. Fishmeal meets this need with its high digestible protein content and balanced amino acid profile, while fish oil provides long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids. The preference for these ingredients, especially in young animal nutrition, breeding stocks, and performance-oriented production systems, stands out as a significant factor supporting market demand. 3. Increasing Awareness and Demand for Omega-3 Fatty Acids Fish oil is one of the most important natural sources of long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids such as EPA and DHA. Scientific findings regarding the positive effects of these fatty acids on animal health, the immune system, and product quality are boosting demand in both animal nutrition and human nutrition applications. This trend positions fish oil not only as an energy source but also as a functional ingredient, increasing its market value. 4. Widespread Adoption of Functional and Performance-Oriented Feed Formulations In the animal nutrition sector, feeds are increasingly evaluated within a "functional" framework. There is growing demand for ingredients that support parameters such as growth performance, immune response, stress tolerance, and product quality. Fishmeal and fish oil are among the cornerstones of this functional approach and remain indispensable, particularly in high-value-added production systems. 5. Rising Demand for Animal Protein in Emerging Markets Population growth, urbanization, and rising income levels in regions such as Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Africa continue to drive the consumption of animal protein. This situation, which supports both aquaculture and intensive livestock systems, indirectly strengthens the demand for fishmeal and fish oil. Many market reports emphasize that these regions will be the main drivers of global growth. 6. More Effective Utilization of Fish By-products Within the scope of sustainability-oriented production approaches, the more effective use of by-products from the fish processing sector in fishmeal and fish oil production is being encouraged. This trend increases resource efficiency and contributes to the long-term sustainability of the market by reducing environmental pressures. The spread of by-product-based production models also strengthens the social and environmental acceptance of the sector. When all these factors are considered together, it is evident that growth in the global fish meal and fish oil market is based not only on volume increases but also on the rising functional and strategic value of the products. The increase in demand ensures that the market retains its medium- and long-term growth potential despite limited supply conditions. FACTORS RESTRAINING MARKET GROWTH While the global fishmeal and fish oil market has strong demand dynamics, it faces structural constraints because production is largely limited and dependent on natural resources. Environmental pressures on fishing activities, regulations, and increasing competition from alternative ingredients are among the key factors limiting the market's growth rate. The main factors restraining market growth on a global scale are summarized below:
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